tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post7855144022659889781..comments2024-03-29T08:03:49.356-04:00Comments on Years That Answer: Halloween, Florida styleColettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-39797857286626691572018-11-11T20:55:22.099-05:002018-11-11T20:55:22.099-05:00When I was a child, trick or treating was a neighb...When I was a child, trick or treating was a neighborhood event. When my kids were children, trick or treating was a neighborhood event. Now, that is not so much the case. Many neighborhoods and municipalities are invaded by hordes of outsiders. It is not the most pleasant of experiences juding by the news reports. <br /><br />Our town hosts a parade. I happened upon the event and was treated to entire families joining in with dressing in costume. So fun. Middle Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334580430376973159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-35422836662188590602018-11-08T11:29:35.936-05:002018-11-08T11:29:35.936-05:00How kind of you, thanks. Still lots of very good n...How kind of you, thanks. Still lots of very good news, though. You are so right.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-20245049359688805592018-11-07T03:04:36.283-05:002018-11-07T03:04:36.283-05:00I got up earlier this morning, about 06.15. Turned...I got up earlier this morning, about 06.15. Turned on the computer, learned what there was to be learned, and felt I had to send you some kind of message. Not cynical, not jocular - just an extended hand. I'm sorry, grievously sorry, but there is at least some very good news.<i>Vaya con Dios.</i> Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-35275937613055390742018-11-03T12:42:09.321-04:002018-11-03T12:42:09.321-04:00Hilarious. Hilarious. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-7102099358121727662018-11-03T03:10:12.202-04:002018-11-03T03:10:12.202-04:00I should add I never resented the misunderstanding...I should add I never resented the misunderstandings. I'd crossed the Atlantic expecting something exotic and wasn't disappointed. The shared language tended at first to disguise the fact I was in a foreign country but very quickly I realised I would always be seen as weird - at least in the suburbs. There were some big pluses too, notably the incredible generosity, especially when our second daughter was born, far away from our extended family.<br /><br />On the other hand, regarding that second daughter... The guy who took me to work before I acquired a car told me, in all seriousness, that were I to drop down dead his first act would be to rush over to my apartment, grab the baby, and have her christened. Her unchristened state actively horrified him. I tried to imagine that happening in London but nearly burst in the attempt. Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-82821336234272890482018-11-02T16:42:34.014-04:002018-11-02T16:42:34.014-04:00It's actually quite nice if it doesn't rai...It's actually quite nice if it doesn't rain on the day.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin%27s_Day#GermanySabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09015827501648296977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-46829727975068497622018-11-02T16:26:42.317-04:002018-11-02T16:26:42.317-04:00Sounds like it. The 60's were still the 50'...Sounds like it. The 60's were still the 50's in many parts of the U.S. <br /><br />Because we live in Florida we sit on the front porch and wait for the children. I've seen many little children fall and skin their knees, crying as they come up. I have never ignored their pain. Once, a macho neighborhood policeman asked me not to respond to his little boy who fell at my feet. I ignored the father, not the little boy who I picked up and hugged. People can be so strange. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-63602375125833839422018-11-02T16:21:29.477-04:002018-11-02T16:21:29.477-04:00I'd never heard of that. Thanks for sharing.I'd never heard of that. Thanks for sharing.<br />Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-45092292225190057422018-11-02T04:55:40.319-04:002018-11-02T04:55:40.319-04:00I was not bred into Halloween and found it difficu...I was not bred into Halloween and found it difficult to rationalise its funny/frightening ethos. But I had two daughters, one seven, one two, and I had come to the USA intent on diving into the complete US experience. Mount Lebanon, a Pittsburgh suburb, was essentially middle-class and I didn't foresee any of those apples embedded with razor-blades I'd heard talk of. Nevertheless I told the kids that they would have to knock on the doors while I stood down the driveway, since this seemed to be the heart of the deal. OK with my rambunctious elder daughter, not so with the younger who ran forward to catch up and get it all over with. Unfortunately she tripped, skinned her knees, started to snivel but completed the visit.<br /><br />It was at times like these that being an alien was useful protection. It was known within the neighbourhood that the Robinsons came from "another place" (this was the late sixties; I'm told things are more sophisticated these days) where tribal practices were beyond comprehension - especially the curiously distant relationships between parents and kids. To open the door on a US kid trying to suppress its tears, possibly bleeding, hand outstretched for a Tootsie Roll would have evoked a predictable reaction. To realise that this same child was not US and came from "somewhere else" (One person, possibly confused, had earlier guessed Albania) encouraged withdrawal. Best let the foreigners get on with their lives.<br /><br />I wasn't unsympathetic towards my daughters but both had been attracted by this ritual when it was pure theory and I wasn't sure that my presence at the door with the discomforted child would have changed things for the better. As it was things mended themselves and my daughters were soon greedily revelling in the growing weight of their pillowcases.<br /><br />I suspect my family's subsequent re-emigration from Mount Lebanon was all for the best.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-2856098033803820302018-11-01T19:07:48.893-04:002018-11-01T19:07:48.893-04:00It's not really catching on here in Germany. B...It's not really catching on here in Germany. But we have the feast of St Martin on 12 Nov when kids walk around with lanterns after dark and force you to listen to them sing at your doorstep and give/share your sweets to/with them the way St Martin shared his sweets some time long ago. Wait. He just cut his coat in half to warm a poor coatless beggar? Never mind. Sabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09015827501648296977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-81406009719783334982018-11-01T14:59:19.338-04:002018-11-01T14:59:19.338-04:00Lily, this is a great comment. I really enjoyed re...Lily, this is a great comment. I really enjoyed reading it. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-30580811086685561332018-11-01T09:50:52.032-04:002018-11-01T09:50:52.032-04:00We didn't have a lot of children last night bu...We didn't have a lot of children last night but it was lovely to see the ones that did come by. The weather was mild, no wind, no snow, it was lovely. I took the dog for a walk after supper and the big guy gave out candy. It was so wonderful to see parents and children out walking in the evening, to hear people talking and laughing, outdoors, usually the last nice evening before winter sets in. Why don't we spend more time outside in our neighborhoods?My life so farhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16721270441968035994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-2227623096397257592018-11-01T08:15:22.275-04:002018-11-01T08:15:22.275-04:00I had adults come to my house trick or treating la...I had adults come to my house trick or treating last night. I almost asked if I could join them. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-75077897674092751832018-11-01T08:14:17.918-04:002018-11-01T08:14:17.918-04:00Hahahaha. Hahahaha. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-79832617469621310552018-10-31T23:53:02.730-04:002018-10-31T23:53:02.730-04:00What's stopping you? Oh, I get it you already ...What's stopping you? Oh, I get it you already ate a few bagfuls of candy......It IS better than Halloween in the snow though!mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03797484583400519909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-73864797791726389412018-10-31T15:40:15.798-04:002018-10-31T15:40:15.798-04:00Well, no wonder you like Halloween. You have wine!...Well, no wonder you like Halloween. You have wine! :)Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-71746858069649556712018-10-31T14:22:01.721-04:002018-10-31T14:22:01.721-04:00That's interesting. Probably a good change in ...That's interesting. Probably a good change in many places, glad the kids still get to have fun and enjoy the holiday. Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-28764576091549127112018-10-31T13:58:46.109-04:002018-10-31T13:58:46.109-04:00I bet.I bet.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-9654725884987148152018-10-31T13:58:15.782-04:002018-10-31T13:58:15.782-04:00I will! Thanks.I will! Thanks.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-515930745233450352018-10-31T13:56:34.438-04:002018-10-31T13:56:34.438-04:00I don't even buy candy anymore. Kids here in ...I don't even buy candy anymore. Kids here in the city don't go to houses anymore. They go to the stores and they are safely in their homes before dark. mxtodis123https://www.blogger.com/profile/13583200601379394225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-35796014241443234432018-10-31T12:56:04.672-04:002018-10-31T12:56:04.672-04:00We get no trick-or-treaters here. The children go ...We get no trick-or-treaters here. The children go to the next town over because there are more people there. I really miss them.Emma Springfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10543689047463574012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-73928872854021981292018-10-31T12:43:56.047-04:002018-10-31T12:43:56.047-04:00No candy purchased because I knew how little will ...No candy purchased because I knew how little will power I have. Kids don’t come round my neighborhood as it is older with no sidewalks. So no lights on tonight. Hope you enjoy your Halloween 🎃 Linda dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01167854309289774316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-42077508729207569972018-10-31T12:19:52.341-04:002018-10-31T12:19:52.341-04:00That is a tradition I can get behind.That is a tradition I can get behind.Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-81304282796002261942018-10-31T11:51:24.336-04:002018-10-31T11:51:24.336-04:00I've gone thru 2 bags and I'm now on a sug...I've gone thru 2 bags and I'm now on a sugar cleanse to apologize to my body. I hope it will forgive me.<br /><br />When I was young, one family in the neighborhood would host a party for the kids so all the other parents could go out trick or treating. Seems like a tradition worthy of revival. 8thdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4729559664676971737.post-84643607573249216852018-10-31T11:45:24.091-04:002018-10-31T11:45:24.091-04:00They are the best. Now I want one. :)They are the best. Now I want one. :)Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.com